Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 9/29/26

2 days ago

3 min read

Despite a bit of a warm spell, the past couple days (highs in low 70’s), we look to more of a cool down by the weekend. Highs in low 60’s to upper 50’s with lows from 37-42° will bring surface temps down from the 62-65° readings we’ve seen the past few days! The full moon period seemed to have had an effect over the weekend, and not an overly nice one. Yes, fish were caught, but it seemed the windows were small. 10:30 am – noon over the weekend. Dense fog helped the Monday (8/28) bite. Once the fog lifted to high sky and flat water, things for most game fish got tough!

Musky: Good-Fair-Good – Bounced around with high pressure and windless days. Small bite windows. But when things lined up – nice catches! While some anglers are picking up Muskies on suckers, personally, twitchbaits (Cranes) were best on my rig. Still like to see that surface temp hit 58° or lower, but the big meat raffle is a coming!

Walleye: Good – Timing is everything. Even over mud flats or 18-28’, bite inconsistent. 1/8 oz (windless days) to 3/8 on windier days to work ½ crawlers or medium redtails. Jigging baits (Raps, Shivers) scoring as well. Always check out shallow weeds (6-9’) during low light times for fish feeding on small Perch.

Northern Pike: Good – Active over vegetation on Mepps #3:#4, swimbaits in the 4” range and jig/chub combos. A shallow running twitchbait will also score working at weed top levels.

Largemouth Bass: Good – Green weeds in 6-10’. Some fish stationing off weed edges in 10-16’ when Musky move into shallows. Wacky style fishing Senkos and Ameobas. Ned rigs and jig/craw combos. Evenings, following warm ups, on top-water.

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Fair – Most action drop-shotting gravel humps of 18-28’. Some big Smallies caught on top-water by Musky anglers in shallows. High pressure kept bite off most days.

Bluegill: Fair-Good – Deep weed edges and deep wood. When predators haunt the shallows, Gills move out and suspend outside weed lines.

Crappie: Fair-Good – Watch for roaming schools along deep edges of coontail or roaming mud flats. Fish moving, so you’ll have to stay mobile to catch them.

Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Few reports, but still some on flats with scattered wood using medium fatheads or ½ crawlers. Slip-floats or Lindy rigs with floating harness to stay above wood.

Colors are really coming along, should peak in the next week or so. Lakes had a bit of a bump up in temp, but for sure will start falling now.

Headwater Chapter of Walleyes for Tomorrow is holding a fundraiser raffle featuring rod/reel combos, guns, meat, ice fishing equipment and more…Please help support this club as they help support the Walleye fisheries of Oneida and Vilas Counties.

Rustic Roadhouse in Manitowish Waters

Thursday, October 15^th

5:30–8:30 pm

Pics of the Week

Lawson Hansen (10 yo) of Woodruff with a 27 ½” Pike

Justin Hansen of Woodruff with a 45” Tiger Musky

Charles Dwyer and Blanca Aragon with a fat 18 1/2” er

Blanca Aragon of Lac Du Flambeau, needed a little help holding this 31” Bowfin (dogfish), her “Birthday Bonus”!

Yeah, she gets her picture in 3 times, can ya blame me? Blanca Aragon with her first “Birthday” Walleye of her trip

Derek Gilbert of Hudson, WI with an early fall Musky

Rosa and Phil Kugel with on of their pre-fish fry Walleyes! Yum!

Logan DeGolier of Minocqua with a 32” Tiger Musky